XN000022-1990-04-12 — Page 16

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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1990

IN LINE WITH THE SLACKENING IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE LATTER HALF OF 1989, THE DEMAND FOR LABOUR WAS BECOMING LESS INTENSE. THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES FOR THE MANUFACTURING, THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTORS DECREASED BY 30.1 PER CENT, AND 17.0 PER CENT AND 1. . 1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY DURING DECEMBER 1988 AND DECEMBER 1989.

COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER 1989, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES IN THE MANUFACTURING, THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTORS DECREASED BY 17.7 PER CENT 6.2 PER CENT AND 3.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN DECEMBER 1989.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE SURVEY ARE STATISTICS ON MONTHLY PAYROLL. OUTLAYS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR: THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR; AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR. QUARTERLY TOTALS FOR EACH OF THESE SECTORS ARE SHOWN IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE:

TOTAL QUARTERLY PAYROLL IN

X CHANGE*

SELECTED MAJOR

SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY

4TH QTR.

1988

4TH QTR. 1989

4TH QTR. 1989

ON

4TH QTR. 1988

HK$ MN

HK$ MN

MANUFACTURING

10,456

11,236

WHOLESALE AND

9,167

11,614

+ 7.5

+26.7

RETAIL, IMPORT

AND EXPORT TRADES

AND RESTAURANTS

AND HOTELS

FINANCING,

5,239

6,547

+25.0

INSURANCE,

REAL ESTATE

AND BUSINESS

SERVICES

BASED ON UNROUNDED PAYROLL FIGURES.

COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER A YEAR AGO, PAYROLL OUTLAYS IN THE ABOVE THREE SECTORS INCREASED BY 7.5 PER CENT, 26.7 PER CENT AND 25.0 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1989.

AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR VARIATIONS IN TOTAL MONTHLY PAYROLL OUTLAYS IN DECEMBER 1988 AND DECEMBER 1989, ARISING FROM CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT, A NOMINAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGRI IS OBTAINED.

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